1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Called to Be Saints
1Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
2To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:
3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4I always thank my God for you because of the grace He has given you in Christ Jesus.
5For in Him you have been enriched in every way, in all speech and all knowledge,
6because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.
7Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
8He will sustain you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
Berean Standard Bible
Paul identifies himself as an apostle of Christ Jesus by God's will and names Sosthenes with him. He writes to the church in Corinth, people sanctified in Christ Jesus and given a holy belonging. Their identity is not based on their church's reputation or their success at living together. God has called them and set them apart in Christ.
Paul extends grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Before he corrects the Corinthians, he gives thanks for God's grace among them. They have been enriched in speech and knowledge, and the testimony about Christ has been confirmed in them. The church has real gifts even though it also has real problems.
Paul says the Corinthians are not lacking in any spiritual gift as they wait for the revealing of Jesus Christ. Their future hope is not vague. Jesus will sustain them to the end so they will be blameless on the day of the Lord. Paul is not saying they will never fail; he is grounding their confidence in God's work rather than their ability to manage themselves perfectly.
The final sentence explains why such confidence is possible: God is faithful. He called them into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. The church's life begins and continues with God's call, grace, gifts, sustaining power, and faithful purpose.
A family can learn from Paul's order. Honest correction does not require pretending that everything is already healthy. It can begin by remembering what God has given and who has called the people in the room to belong to Him.
Questions
1 How does Paul describe the Corinthians' identity?
AnswerThey are a church sanctified in Christ Jesus and joined to everyone who calls on the name of Jesus.
2 What has God's grace enriched among them?
AnswerGod's grace has enriched them in speech and knowledge, and the testimony about Christ has been confirmed in them.
3 What are the Corinthians waiting for?
AnswerThey are waiting for the revealing of Jesus Christ, who will sustain them to the end.
4 Why can Paul trust their future with God?
AnswerHe can trust it because God is faithful and has called them into fellowship with His Son.
What This Means for Us
Begin difficult conversations by naming grace honestly. What has God already given this household—faith, wisdom, forgiveness, gifts, or people who help? Gratitude can make correction truthful without making it hopeless.
Remember that Christian identity is received before it is displayed. Growth matters, but your household does not have to pretend to be flawless in order to belong to Christ.
Prayer
Faithful God, thank You for calling us into fellowship with Jesus. Help us receive Your grace, use what You have given, and trust You to sustain us as we grow. Amen.